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Cardinal numerals may be used in two ways, depending on whether emphasis is given to the number or to the thing counted. | Cardinal numerals may be used in two ways, depending on whether emphasis is given to the number or to the thing counted. | ||
* In the most common use, the counted thing is emphasized: the numeral is put '''before''' the noun and the noun is always '''singular''' (except for "two", see below) plus the appropriate case: e.g. ''leilum yujam'' (a lotus flower); ''danīh māra'' (two mango fruits); ''tarvas haloe'' (three names), ''lelišvatī ñaiṭa'' (eleven stars), and so on. | * In the most common use, the counted thing is emphasized: the numeral is put '''before''' the noun and the noun is always '''singular''' (except for "two", see below) plus the appropriate case: e.g. ''leilum yujam'' (a lotus flower); ''danīh māra'' (two mango fruits); ''tarvas haloe'' (three names), ''lelišvatī ñaiṭa'' (eleven stars), and so on. | ||
* If emphasis is given to the number, then the counted thing comes first, and, if it should be in direct, ergative, or accusative case, it is in '''genitive singular''' instead; the semantic direct, ergative, or accusative case is taken by the numeral itself if it is one, two, three, or compounds. Examples: ''yujami leilum'' (one lotus flower), ''māri danīh'' (two mango fruits), ''halenies tarvas'' (three names), ''ñaiṭi lelišvatī'' (eleven stars). In other cases, the noun follows the semantic case (but is always singular anyway), e.g. ''marti tarvė'' (three cities) but ''marte tarviyė'' (in the three cities). | * If emphasis is given to the number, then the counted thing comes first, and, if it should be in direct, ergative, or accusative case, it is in '''genitive singular''' instead; the semantic direct, ergative, or accusative case is taken by the numeral itself if it is one, two, three, or compounds. Examples: ''yujami leilum'' (one lotus flower), ''māri danīh'' (two mango fruits), ''halenies tarvas'' (three names), ''ñaiṭi lelišvatī'' (eleven stars). In other cases, the noun follows the semantic case (but is always singular anyway), e.g. ''marti tarvė'' (three cities) but ''marte tarviyė'' (in the three cities).<br/>This form is increasingly less common in everyday use. | ||
* "Two" may be used with either singular or dual number: ''danīh māra'' or ''māri danīh'' are both as correct as ''danīh māradi'' and ''māradais danīh'' - note that the dual number alone, without the numeral, has the same meaning. Outside of literary texts, it is however more common to specify "two" with the numeral. | * "Two" may be used with either singular or dual number: ''danīh māra'' or ''māri danīh'' are both as correct as ''danīh māradi'' and ''māradais danīh'' - note that the dual number alone, without the numeral, has the same meaning. Outside of literary texts, it is however more common to specify "two" with the numeral. | ||